Here's what one of our educated customers thinks about our MP-40's, as compared to the benchmark model gun MP-40, the MGC 68:

Dear KAR,

          I just received your MP40 with brown bakelite, weathered metal finish with markings;  All Keystone Arsenal exclusives.  
 
          I own an original MP40 (in parts kit form, '43 date) and two Model Gun Company of Japan 1968 MP40's  so I humbly offer that my basis of comparison is substantial.  Your simulated brown bakelite finish is excellent.  It is worth getting.  The MGC guns have a shiny plastic finish in either brown or black which I have never really cared for.  Your proprietary brown finish is really accurate.

          The weathered finish on the metal you provided is outstanding. It is subtle, nothing really stands out........ it just provides a really nice overall tone to the model.  

          The markings are a nice touch but frankly, you have to look for them and as displayed on a mannequin, they would be difficult to see.  But they are there and no other model has them.  Your orange barrel plug is also very subtle.  I always dig those out of my model guns, but I know you have to have them there to sell them.     

          I have never felt that the MGC guns warranted the price they command on the aftermarket as I can point out just as many external minor discrepancies on the MGC guns as I can your model.   From 3 feet away, hanging on a mannequin, I like your KAR exclusive gun better than the stock MGC guns.  Given the price on MGC '68 guns compared to your exclusive models and the external appearance of both, for my display purposes your gun wins hands down.  Great job and many thanks.
 
Rel Hoida
December 18, 2009

                                                   Our Response:

Dear Rel,

          Thanks.   Since MGC went out of business in 1992 there has really been no good MP-40 on the market. You can find the old MGC guns used of course, but here's the problem, especially now. One: The cost. The guns are excellent replicas, but they will run you anywhere from 700-1000 USD for a used one. Lets say, 1000 for a gun thats NIB....OK...Lets say you don't care about the price and you buy it. The MGC MP-40 was made around 1980 and has been sitting in a box for the last thirty years. Still new right?...Wrong. Most replica guns are made from ZAMAK...This alloy is a German concocted metal comprised of Zinc Aluminum Magnesium And Kopper. (German Spelling of Copper) This metal is excellent for making replica guns as it mimics the weight of steel but without the tensile strength to help keep dummies from trying to convert these fine replicas. ZAMAK also has better ductility properties than steel, which will allow a part to give a little instead of breaking. ZAMAK also has a far lower melting point which means less energy is required to mold the material thus saving money in the manufacturing process. Your gun too is made of ZAMAK.....ZAMAK has only one flaw. Like all metal, it becomes brittle over time, BUT due to the materials nature, it gets brittle faster....after 30 years, those old MGC guns got super brittle. and THAT fact combined with the small peices used in this gun is a recipie for heartbreak over broken parts....What this means is that that vintage MGC68 MP-40 isn't really NIB...It's more like BIB  (Brittle in Box)...The KAR MP-40 is designed with rugged simplicity in mind, sooooo.......The parts are bigger and stronger, less prone to breakage, and with our "In the White" part casting inspection process, your gun WILL actually last you 30 years without issue.  All this for a gun that's under 300.00.